Vehicle camera lens dirt protection via air flow

ABSTRACT

A vision system for a vehicle includes a camera having an imager and a lens. The camera is disposed at an exterior portion of a vehicle and has a field of view exterior of the vehicle. An air flow element has an inlet port and an outlet port, with the outlet port configured to direct air flow in front of the lens to direct debris away from the lens. The outlet port is configured to direct air flow at a velocity that is greater than a velocity of air flow that is flowing into the inlet port. The inlet port may have an inlet area that is substantially greater than an outlet area of the outlet port. The system may include an air flow generating device for generating or enhancing air flow through the air flow device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the filing benefits of U.S. provisionalapplications, Ser. No. 61/804,786, filed Mar. 25, 2013, and Ser. No.61/713,772, filed Oct. 15, 2012, which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to imaging systems or vision systems forvehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Use of imaging sensors in vehicle imaging systems is common and known.Examples of such known systems are described in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,949,331; 5,670,935; and/or 5,550,677, which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a vision system or imaging system for avehicle that utilizes one or more cameras to capture images exterior ofthe vehicle, and provides the communication/data signals, includingcamera data or image data that may be displayed or processed to providethe desired display images and/or processing and control, depending anthe particular application of the camera and vision or imaging system.The present invention provides a camera module for use in a vehiclevision system, and the camera module includes an additional structure toguide an airflow over the camera front area to hold off rain, hail, snowand dust from the cameras front lens surface while the vehicle is inmotion.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of thepresent invention will become apparent upon review of the followingspecification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a vehicle with a vision system and imagingsensors or cameras that provide exterior fields of view and the airguidance means to provide an air flow over the outside lens of thecamera in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic of the basic principle of the invention, shownwith the air stream generated as passive;

FIG. 3 is another schematic of a principle of the invention showingoptional means for filtering the incoming air from particles and avehicle camera relative to the air funnel outlet;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary image showing how a passive solution according tothe invention may look like in a front view, with the difference in thedimensions of the intake and the outlets being illustrated;

FIG. 5 shows another schematic of a principle of the invention, shownwith the air stream being actively generated by an electric fan, andshown with optional means for filtering the incoming air from particles,means for heating up the air electrically and a vehicle camera relativeto the air funnel outlet;

FIG. 6 shows another schematic of a principle of the invention, shownwith the air stream actively generated by an electric fan, and shownwith optional means for filtering the incoming air from particles, meansfor heating up the air by the engine coolant when the air is guidedthrough the engine's radiator and a vehicle camera relative to the airfunnel outlet;

FIG. 7 shows another schematic of a principle of the invention, shownwith the air stream actively generated by an electric fan, and shownwith optional means for filtering the incoming air from particles, meansfor heating up the air which are comprised by a compartment the air isguided through which is heated up by the engine's exhaust gases and avehicle camera relative to the air funnel outlet;

FIG. 8 shows a schematic top view of a passive implementation of thesystem of the present invention, shown with the funnel's width coveringthe extension of the camera lens by a dry air stream which works againstthe air flow caused by the relative velocity of the vehicle, wherein thedeflective air extension area ends at the distance where the outletsairs kinetic energy component in driving direction is exhausted by theimpacting outside air, and due to the vertical component the air streamthan dives underneath the camera;

FIG. 9 shows an exemplary installing position into a car of a passiveimplementation of the system of the present invention, such as shown inFIG. 7, shown with a front grill wide angle vision system camera;

FIG. 10 shows a schematic side view of a passive implementation of thesystem of the present invention;

FIG. 11 shows a schematic side view of an active implementation of thesystem of the present invention, shown with the same working principleas that shown in FIG. 10, but with an electric air fan added forincreasing the air sped of the deflective air stream;

FIG. 11A shows a close up view of the electric fan of FIG. 11 asinstalled in the region of the dry air outlet;

FIG. 12 shows a side view cut out region from FIG. 10 or FIG. 11, withthe area around the camera being shown;

FIG. 13 is a schematic of the air flow released from the nozzleimpacting to the air flow which is substantially directed against itcaused by the vehicle's own velocity;

FIG. 14 is shown with an ultrasound emitter as another optional elementof the system of the present invention; and

FIG. 15 is a schematic of a four camera vehicle vision system having acentral air compressor device and pneumatic lines leading to each camerafor providing air for cleaning the respective camera.

Figures Legend:

-   -   (1) Air funnel    -   (2) Dry chamber    -   (3) Water outlet    -   (4) Dry air outlet    -   (5) Air nozzle    -   (6) Water baffles    -   (7) Electric fan/Compressor    -   (8) Rain drops (with falling path as a tail)    -   (9) Deflected rain drops    -   (10) Vehicle    -   (11) Air steam intake    -   (13) Air bypass    -   (14 b) Vehicle camera    -   (16) Display device    -   (18) Control or image processor    -   (20) Rearview mirror assembly    -   (21) Camera lens surface    -   (22) Air stream from nozzle    -   (23) Effective Air deflection area    -   (24) Ultra sound generator    -   (25) Area of active ultrasound    -   (26) Diffused water drops    -   (27) Heated air area    -   (28) Hot exhaust area    -   (29) Exhaust    -   (30) Air filter    -   (31) Engine radiator    -   (32) Air outlet angle    -   (33) Electrical heating element    -   (40) Air pump and distributor    -   (41) Pneumatic line/hose    -   (42) Control device    -   (43) Signal line

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Vehicle vision system and driver assistant system sensors can only workproperly when their field of view is not restricted by obstacles ordebris, such as snow or the like, or such as when blurred such as bywater drops or the like, when such are resting on the sensor's surface.Especially optical systems diminish in function when their vision isblurred by such debris or the like.

There are three ways to cope with such obstructions. For example, thecamera may have a type of cleaning device that cleans the camera lenssurface by spraying a washing substance over the dirty surface of thelens, such as in a similar manner as described in JP002011245989A, or bywiping a lens surface or cover, such as in a similar manner as describedin U.S. Pat. No. 7,965,336, which is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety, or by trying to hinder water drops and dirtfrom forming at the lens surface. When the car is not moving, this maybe done by casing the camera in a housing or applying a lid or cover orthe like.

The present invention applies an air stream curtain close to thecamera's front end (the portion that is exposed at the exterior of thevehicle, which may be facing in the forward direction of travel of thevehicle for a forward or front camera or in a sideward and/or rearwarddirection of travel of the vehicle for a side or rear camera) in a waythat it acts like a deflector to impacting water drops, hail, snowflakes and particles and/or the like.

This may be achieved by an additional structure comprising an air intakearea for collecting an air stream which is substantially directed to anozzle at the outside area of the camera at an angle suitable to deflectraindrops, hail and snow redirected away from the cameras lens surface,and such as toward the underside of the camera or underneath the camera.It is preferred that the airstream speed at the nozzle outlet of thesystem of the present invention is always substantially higher than thedriving air speed caused by the vehicle's own velocity when the vehicleis being driven. The air steam may be generated in that manner by apassive member or device which comprises an air funnel substantiallydirected into the main driving direction of the vehicle or by an activemember which comprises an electric motor driven air fan or the like.

Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depictedtherein, a vehicle 10 includes an imaging system or vision system 12that includes one or more imaging sensors or cameras (such as a rearwardfacing imaging sensor or camera 14 a and/or a forwardly facing camera 14b at the front of the vehicle, and/or a sidewardly and/or rearwardlyfacing camera 14 c, 14 b at the sides of the vehicle), which captureimages exterior of the vehicle, with the cameras having a lens forfocusing Images at or onto an imaging array or imaging plane of thecamera (FIG. 1). The vision system 12 is operable to process image datacaptured by the cameras and may provide displayed images at a displaydevice 16 (such as at an interior rearview mirror assembly 20 of thevehicle or elsewhere in the interior cabin of the vehicle) for viewingby the driver of the vehicle. Optionally, the vision system may processimage data to detect objects (such as via a control or image processor18), such as objects to the rear of the subject or equipped vehicleduring a reversing maneuver, or such as approaching or followingvehicles or vehicles at a side lane adjacent to the subject or equippedvehicle or the like.

FIG. 2 is a schematic of the basic principle of the present invention.In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2, the air stream is generatedpassive. The relation of the air streams A1×v1−A3×v3=K×A2×v2 isillustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is another schematic of the principle ofthe invention showing optional means (such as a filter or filter means30 disposed in the system) for filtering the incoming air from particlesand a vehicle camera 14 b relative to the air funnel outlet 5. FIG. 4 isa perspective view showing the relative locations and dimensions of theair flow intake and discharge or outlet ports. It becomes obvious thatA1 is much larger than A3 and A2 which ensures a substantial airflowthrough the output nozzles 3 and 5.A ₁ >>A ₃ +A ₂

When comprising a preferred passive system (and with reference to FIGS.1-4), the air flow 2 with the wind speed v2 through a nozzle hole in theextension A2 should equal to the air flow 1 captured by a funnel in thesize of A2 with essential the wind speed caused by the vehicle's ownvelocity plus/minus whether dependent additional outside wind speed v1A ₁ ×v ₁ =A ₂ ×v ₂

With a non-ideal system there is an additional nonlinear air friction‘K’ on the surfaces of the funnel, hoses and nozzle which diminishes theeffectively.A ₁ ×v ₁ =K×A ₂ ×v ₂

An additional option of the invention is to dry the air within a dryingchamber after the air is collected or captured by the intake. The waterbecomes separated from the air and drained through a water outlet at thebottom. To make sure that the water can escape fast enough, a part ofthe ram pressure may be used to accelerate the water draining (speed v₃;output area A₃). This diminishes the air stream nozzle output by anotherpart:A ₁ ×v ₁ −A ₃ ×v ₃ =K×A ₂ ×v ₂

An additional option of the present invention is to use an air filterwithin the air stream to filter the incoming air from pollutingparticles that these can't pollute the nozzle outlet.

Optionally, the air becomes heated up by any means as like passing ordriving by an electrical heater element 33 (FIG. 5), such as theengine's or electrical motor's cooling radiator 31 (FIG. 6), a heatexchange area 27 heated from the engine's exhaust gases 29 (FIG. 7) orthe a heat exchange area 27 heated from engine's oil or the like. Besideholding off new particles, raindrops, hail and snow flakes, the heatedair may help to melt snow and ice at the lens or camera, so that thesecan fall off the camera. The system may comprise but should not belimited to have additional cleaning abilities. It may be able to drawaway dust, snow and rain drops from the lens surface by the air streamfrom the nozzle.

As can be seen with reference to FIGS. 4, 8 and 9, the air flow devicehas a larger inlet port or opening 1 that collects air flow (such as ata forward portion of a vehicle and such as when the vehicle is travelingin a forward direction) and funnels the air flow into a smaller channelso as to discharge the air as a higher velocity air stream at or nearthe camera or lens. As shown in FIG. 4, the outlet nozzle 5 may be sizedand shaped to be at a side (such as an upper side or region) of thesensor (such as a camera and lens sensor or other suitable sensor) andmay direct the discharged air flow in front of the sensor to limitparticles from impacting the sensor or lens as the vehicle travelsforwardly (and optionally with use of a fan or the like to generate airflow if the vehicle is stopped, as discussed below). In the illustratedembodiment, the discharge nozzle comprises a narrow port across an upperside or region of the sensor and is directed forwardly of the sensor anddownwardly so that air that is discharged from the discharge nozzleflows in front of the sensor and across the sensor and may flow back andbelow the sensor (due to the air flow towards the vehicle due to thevehicle's forward speed of travel), such that any particles flying intothe air flow or stream will be directed away from the sensor.

An optional implementation, the inventive system may comprise an activemember (either alone or in combination with the system above). Forexample, and with reference to FIGS. 5-7 and 15, the system may includean electric fan or compressor 7 installed in the air guiding structureto either support the passively generated air stream as described aboveor to propel the air stream alone without the use of passive elements.This realization also works (to keep the camera lens clean) at no or lowspeed so as to reduce or eliminate the need for cameras that possess alid covers or housings. Optionally, when the vehicle is traveling athigher speeds (such as at a speed above a threshold level), nocompressor or fan may be used and the passive airflow system above maybe used, with flow distribution controlled by the distributor or thelike for one or more or all of the cameras at the vehicle.

When using a compressor, the compressor 40 may be installed centrally(such as shown in FIG. 15), or optionally an air compressor may be usedin combination with a compressed air storage device, or alternatively acompressed air storage device may be attached and used as a pressuresource. Pneumatic hoses 41 may distribute compressed air from the aircompressor 40 or compressed air storage device to the camera aircleaning outlets at the respective cameras 14 a-d of the vehicle. Thehoses may be routed directly to the cameras (such as shown in FIG. 15)or more than one camera may be provided with or cleaned by one commonair hose coming from the air supply. Optionally, the air pressure sourcemay comprise a common vehicle air compressor already in use at thevehicle, such as for supplying pressurized air for a suspension system,or for engine charging, break actuating, lock actuating and/or the like.

Optionally, the system may, such as responsive to image processing ofimage data captured by the cameras, determine the level of dirt at eachcamera (as well as weather conditions and/or the like) and maydynamically control the air pressure to the individual cameras. Forexample, image data captured by the cameras 14 a-d may be communicatedto a control or ECU 18 via signal lines or links 43 (such as wired orwireless communication links between the cameras and the control) andprocessed by the control or ECU 18 to determine the level of dirt at thecameras. Optionally, images representative of the captured image datamay be communicated by the control 18 to a display 16 for viewing by thedriver or other occupant of the vehicle. Optionally, the driver mayactuate a user input to actuate the compressor to remove dirt from thelenses of the cameras, such as responsive to the driver viewing thedisplayed images and seeing that contaminants are present on one or moreof the camera lenses.

Optionally, the system may, such as by utilizing the same pipe lines orhoses, discharge a cleaning fluid or liquid at the start of the cleaningprocess, and then follow that with pressurized air flow to enhance thelens/camera cleaning process. Optionally, during rain or wet roadconditions, the system may control the air pressure and distribute thepressurized air using a central ECU 18 to keep the cameras clean toimprove or enhance camera vision. Optionally, an application specificcontrol device 42 may be operable to control operation of the compressor(such as in response to a user input or to the control 18), or thecontrol aspects of control device 42 may be incorporated into thecontrol 18. Optionally, the system of the present invention may becompact and may run air lines to the cameras from a single centraldistributor and small air compressor, which may be controlled by avehicle ECU or the like. Thus, the system of the present invention may,such as before the driver has started driving the vehicle, clean all ofthe cameras so that they are clean and ready for image data captureprior to or at the onset of vehicle movement. Also, the system of thepresent invention may have a single motor or compressor (and thus maysave costs) and a distributor, whereby the system may control thepressure at different cameras and thus may provide different levels ofcleaning at the different cameras.

The illustrated embodiments of FIGS. 1-14 mostly relate to front camerasbut the invention is not limited to front camera applications. Forexample, side and rear cameras may be equipped with an air flow deviceof the present invention, such as devices similar to those describedabove and shown in the attached figures.

FIG. 10 shows a schematic side view of a passive implementation of thesystem of the present invention. The funnel releases a dry air stream(22) which works against the air flow caused by the relative velocity ofthe vehicle. The rain drop deflective working principle is shown. Norain drops attain to the camera's lens surface. As shown is how thewater becomes separated so that dry air enters the dry chamber (2) whilethe water is released into the water outlet (3). Water baffles (6) at orin front of the dry chamber separate direct impacting raindrops. An airfilter (30) hinders small particles from intaking and adding up in theair funnel. The bypass air flow (13) increases the release of water outof the water outlet and driving away the deflected air.

As can be seen in FIG. 12 (side view cut out region from FIG. 10 or FIG.11) the area around the camera is shown. The nozzle's air stream outletdirection has an angle or partial vertical angle (32) downward relativeto the camera which is installed laterally. This is substantially thesame as the direction of impacting air caused by the vehicle's ownvelocity. As shown in FIG. 13, the air that flows from the nozzle 5 isdirected in front of the camera and lens to deflect or blow particlesaway from the camera and lens. The air flow exits the nozzle 5 at aspeed greater than the velocity of the vehicle and is deflected downwardand back under the camera after it is discharged from the nozzle 5, suchthat the air stream flows in front of and around the camera and keepsrain or dirt or snow or the like from impacting the lens as the vehicleis traveling in a forward direction.

Optionally, and as shown in FIG. 14, the system may comprise anotheroptional element of the invention: heavy incoming water drops may beturned away from the camera lens more successful by diffusing them by aultrasound emitter or generator 24 attached close to the region of thedeflecting air stream, which enables that the diffused (means small andlight) water drops are carried away by the air stream more easily.

Therefore, the present invention provides an air flow system thatreceives air as the vehicle travels along and funnels the received airto a smaller diameter passageway or nozzle to provide a higher velocitydischarge air stream that is directed generally at and forwardly of acamera and lens of the vehicle. The higher velocity air stream deflectsor blows particles from in front of the camera and lens so that theparticles (such as snow, rain, dirt and/or the like) do not impact thelens of the camera to block or attenuate the field of view of thecamera. The air flow system may function responsive to input air flowthat is generated by the movement of the vehicle (whereby the exit airflow or air stream is at a substantially greater velocity than the inputair flow and the vehicle), or an air flow generating device or means(such as a fan or the like) may be used to generate a desired input airflow. The air flow system may include a filter to filter out particlesfrom the air stream, and/or the air flow system may include a means forlimiting water or moisture in the discharge air flow or stream (such asby heating the inlet air flow or by providing deflectors or the like todeflect rain and moisture away from the inlet and into a water dischargeport or the like).

The system includes an image processor operable to process image datacaptured by the camera or cameras, such as for detecting objects orother vehicles or pedestrians or the like in the field of view of one ormore of the cameras. For example, the image processor may comprise anEyeQ2 or EyeQ3 image processing chip available from Mobileye VisionTechnologies Ltd. of Jerusalem, Israel, and may include object detectionsoftware (such as the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,855,755;7,720,580; and/or 7,038,577, which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties), and may analyze image data to detectvehicles and/or other objects. Responsive to such image processing, andwhen an object or other vehicle is detected, the system may generate analert to the driver of the vehicle and/or may generate an overlay at thedisplayed image to highlight or enhance display of the detected objector vehicle, in order to enhance the driver's awareness of the detectedobject or vehicle or hazardous condition during a driving maneuver ofthe equipped vehicle.

The vehicle may include any type of sensor or sensors, such as imagingsensors or radar sensors or lidar sensors or ladar sensors or ultrasonicsensors or the like. The imaging sensor or camera may capture image datafor image processing and may comprise any suitable camera or sensingdevice, such as, for example, an array of a plurality of photosensorelements arranged in at least 640 columns and 480 rows (preferably amegapixel imaging array or the like), with a respective lens focusingimages onto respective portions of the array. The photosensor array maycomprise a plurality of photosensor elements arranged in a photosensorarray having rows and columns. The logic and control circuit of theimaging sensor may function in any known manner, and the imageprocessing and algorithmic processing may comprise any suitable meansfor processing the images and/or image data.

For example, the vision system and/or processing and/or camera and/orcircuitry may utilize aspects described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,005,974;5,760,962; 5,877,897; 5,796,094; 5,949,331; 6,222,447; 6,302,545;6,396,397; 6,498,620; 6,523,964; 6,611,202; 6,201,642; 6,690,268;6,717,610; 6,757,109; 6,802,617; 6,806,452; 6,822,563; 6,891,563;6,946,978; 7,859,565; 5,550,677; 5,670,935; 6,636,258; 7,145,519;7,161,616; 7,230,640; 7,248,283; 7,295,229; 7,301,466; 7,592,928;7,881,496; 7,720,580; 7,038,577; 6,882,287; 5,929,786 and/or 5,786,772,and/or International Publication Nos. WO 2011/028686; WO 2010/099416; WO2012/061567; WO 2012/068331; WO 2012/075250; WO 2012/103193; WO2012/0116043; WO 2012/0145313; WO 2012/0145501; WO 2012/145818; WO2012/145822; WO 2012/158167; WO 2012/075250; WO 2012/103193; WO2012/0116043; WO 2012/0145501; WO 2012/0145343; WO 2012/154919; WO2013/019707; WO 2013/016409; WO 2012/145822; WO 2013/067083; WO2013/070539; WO 2013/043661; WO 2013/048994; WO 2013/063014, WO2013/081984; WO 2013/081985; WO 2013/074604; WO 2013/086249; WO2013/103548; WO 2013/109869; WO 2013/123161; WO 2013/126715; and/or WO2013/043661, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2013/036701, filed Apr.16, 2013; (PCT)) and/or U.S. patent applications Ser. No. 14/046,174,filed Oct. 4, 2013; Ser. No. 14/036,723, filed Sep. 25, 2013; Ser. No.14/016,790, filed Sep. 3, 2013; Ser. No. 14/001,272, filed Aug. 23,2013; Ser. No. 13/970,868, filed Aug. 20, 2013; Ser. No. 13/964,134,filed Aug. 12, 2013; Ser. No. 13/942,758, filed Jul. 16, 2013; Ser. 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No. 61/819,835, filed May 6, 2013; Ser. No. 61/819,033,filed May 3, 2013; Ser. No. 61/16,956, filed Apr. 29, 2013; Ser. No.61/815,044, filed Apr. 23, 2013; Ser. No. 61/814,533, filed Apr. 22,2013; Ser. No. 61/813,361, filed Apr. 18, 2013; Ser. No. 61/840,407,filed Apr. 10, 2013; Ser. No. 61/808,930, filed Apr. 5, 2013; Ser. No.61/807,050, filed Apr. 1, 2013; Ser. No. 61/806,674, filed Mar. 29,2013; Ser. No. 61/806,673, filed Mar. 29, 2013; Ser. No. 61/793,592,filed Mar. 15, 2013; Ser. No. 61/793,614, filed Mar. 15, 2013; Ser. No.61/772,015, filed Mar. 4, 2013; Ser. No. 61/772,014, filed Mar. 4, 2013;Ser. No. 61/770,051, filed Feb. 27, 2013; Ser. No. 61/770,048, filedFeb. 27, 2013; Ser. No. 61/766,883, filed Feb. 20, 2013; Ser. No.61/760,366, filed Feb. 4, 2013; Ser. No. 61/760,364, filed Feb. 4, 2013;Ser. No. 61/756,832, filed Jan. 25, 2013; Ser. No. 61/754,804, filedJan. 21, 2013; Ser. No. 61/745,925, filed Dec. 26, 2012; Ser. No.61/745,864, filed Dec. 26, 2012; Ser. No. 61/736,104, filed Dec. 12,2012; Ser. No. 61/736,103, filed Dec. 12, 2012; Ser. No. 61/735,314,filed Dec. 10, 2012; Ser. No. 61/734,457, filed Dec. 7, 2012; Ser. No.61/733,598, filed Dec. 5, 2012; Ser. No. 61/733,093, filed Dec. 4, 2012;Ser. No. 61/727,912, filed Nov. 19, 2012; Ser. No. 61/727,911, filedNov. 19, 2012; Ser. No. 61/727,910, filed Nov. 19, 2012; and/or Ser. No.61/718,382, filed Oct. 25, 2012, which are all hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties. The system may communicate withother communication systems via any suitable means, such as by utilizingaspects of the systems described in International Publication Nos.WO/2010/144900; WO 2013/043661 and/or WO 2013/081985, and/or U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/202,005, filed Aug. 17, 2011, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

The imaging device and control and image processor and any associatedillumination source, if applicable, may comprise any suitablecomponents, and may utilize aspects of the cameras and vision systemsdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,550,677; 5,877,897; 6,498,620; 5,670,935;5,796,094; 6,396,397; 6,806,452; 6,690,268; 7,005,974; 7,123,168;7,004,606; 6,946,978; 7,038,577; 6,353,392; 6,320,176; 6,313,454; and6,824,281, and/or International Publication Nos. WO 2010/099416; WO2011/028686 and/or WO 2013/016409, and/or U.S. patent application Ser.No. 12/508,840, filed Jul. 24, 2009, and published Jan. 28, 2010 as U.S.Pat. Publication No. US 2010-0020170, and/or U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/534,657, filed Jun. 27, 2012, which are all herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties. The camera orcameras may comprise any suitable cameras or imaging sensors or cameramodules, and may utilize aspects of the cameras or sensors described inU.S. patent applications Ser. No. 12/091,359, filed Apr. 24, 2008 andpublished Oct. 1, 2009 as U.S. Publication No. US-2009-0244361, and/orSer. No. 13/260,400, filed Sep. 26, 2011 , and/or U.S. Pat. Nos.7,965,336 and/or 7,480,149, which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties. The imaging array sensor may comprise anysuitable sensor, and may utilize various imaging sensors or imagingarray sensors or cameras or the like, such as a CMOS imaging arraysensor, a CCD sensor or other sensors or the like, such as the typesdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,550,677; 5,670,935; 5,760,962; 5,715,093;5,877,897; 6,922,292; 6,757,109; 6,717,610; 6,590,719; 6,201,642;6,498,620; 5,796,094; 6,097,023; 6,320,176; 6,559,435; 6,831,261;6,806,452; 6,396,397; 6,822,563; 6,946,978; 7,339,149; 7,038,577;7,004,606; and/or 7,720,580, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/534,632, filed May 11, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,965,336; and/orInternational Publication Nos. WO/2009/036176 and/or WO/2009/046268,which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

The camera module and circuit chip or board and imaging sensor may beimplemented and operated in connection with various vehicularvision-based systems, and/or may be operable utilizing the principles ofsuch other vehicular systems, such as a vehicle headlamp control system,such as the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,796,094; 6,097,023;6,320,176; 6,559,435; 6,831,261; 7,004,606; 7,339,149; and/or 7,526,103,which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties, a rain sensor, such as the types disclosed in commonlyassigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,353,392; 6,313,454; 6,320,176; and/or7,480,149, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties, a vehicle vision system, such as a forwardly, sidewardly orrearwardly directed vehicle vision system utilizing principles disclosedin U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,550,677; 5,670,935; 5,760,962; 5,877,897; 5,949,331;6,222,447; 6,302,545; 6,396,397; 6,498,620; 6,523,964; 6,611,202;6,201,642; 6,690,268; 6,717,610; 6,757,109; 6,802,617; 6,806,452;6,822,563; 6,891,563; 6,946,978; and/or 7,859,565, which are all herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties, a trailer hitchingaid or tow check system, such as the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.7,005,974, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety, a reverse or sideward imaging system, such as for a lanechange assistance system or lane departure warning system or for a blindspot or object detection system, such as imaging or detection systems ofthe types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,720,580; 7,038,577; 5,929,786and/or 5,786,772, and/or U.S. pat. applications Ser. No. 11/239,980,filed Sep. 30, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,881,496, and/or U.S.provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/628,709, filed Nov. 17, 2004; Ser.No. 60/614,644, filed Sep. 30, 2004; Ser. No. 60/618,686, filed Oct. 14,2004; Ser. No. 60/638,687, filed Dec. 23, 2004, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties, a video device forinternal cabin surveillance and/or video telephone function, such asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,760,962; 5,877,897; 6,690,268; and/or7,370,983, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/538,724, filedJun. 13, 2005 and published Mar. 9, 2006 as U.S. Publication No.US-2006-0050018, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties, a traffic sign recognition system, a system fordetermining a distance to a leading or trailing vehicle or object, suchas a system utilizing the principles disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.6,396,397 and/or 7,123,168, which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties, and/or the like.

Optionally, the circuit board or chip may include circuitry for theimaging array sensor and or other electronic accessories or features,such as by utilizing compass-on-a-chip or EC driver-on-a-chip technologyand aspects such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,255,451 and/or U.S.Pat. No. 7,480,149; and/or U.S. patent applications Ser. No. 11/226,628,filed Sep. 14, 2005 and published Mar. 23, 2006 as U.S. Publication No.US-2006-0061008, and/or Ser. No. 12/578,732, filed Oct. 14, 2009, whichare hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, the vision system may include a display for displayingimages captured by one or more of the imaging sensors for viewing by thedriver of the vehicle while the driver is normally operating thevehicle. Optionally, for example, the vision system may include a videodisplay device disposed at or in the interior rearview mirror assemblyof the vehicle, such as by utilizing aspects of the video mirror displaysystems described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,690,268 and/or U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/333,337, filed Dec. 21, 2011, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties. The video mirrordisplay may comprise any suitable devices and systems and optionally mayutilize aspects of the compass display systems described in U.S. Pat.Nos. 7,370,983; 7,329,013; 7,308,341; 7,289,037; 7,249,860; 7,004,593;4,546,551; 5,699,044; 4,953,305; 5,576,687; 5,632,092; 5,677,851;5,708,410; 5,737,226; 5,802,727; 5,878,370; 6,087,953; 6,173,508;6,222,460; 6,513,252; and/or 6,642,851, and/or European patentapplication, published Oct. 11, 2000 under Publication No. EP 0 1043566,and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005and published Mar. 23, 2006 as U.S. Publication No. US-2006-0061008,which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties. Optionally, the video mirror display screen or device may beoperable to display images captured by a rearward viewing camera of thevehicle during a reversing maneuver of the vehicle (such as responsiveto the vehicle gear actuator being placed in a reverse gear position orthe like) to assist the driver in backing up the vehicle, and optionallymay be operable to display the compass heading or directional headingcharacter or icon when the vehicle is not undertaking a reversingmaneuver, such as when the vehicle is being driven in a forwarddirection along a road (such as by utilizing aspects of the displaysystem described in International Publication No. WO 2012/051500, whichis hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety).

Optionally, the vision system (utilizing the forward facing camera and arearward facing camera and other cameras disposed at the vehicle withexterior fields of view) may be part of or may provide a display of atop-down view or birds-eye view system of the vehicle or a surround viewat the vehicle, such as by utilizing aspects of the vision systemsdescribed in International Publication Nos. WO 2010/099416; WO2011/028686; WO2012/075250; WO 2013/019795; WO 2012-075250; WO2012/145822; WO 2013/081985; WO 2013/086249; and/or WO 2013/109869,and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/333,337, filed Dec. 21, 2011,which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, a video mirror display may be disposed rearward of andbehind the reflective element assembly and may comprise a display suchas the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,530,240; 6,329,925;7,855,755; 7,626,749; 7,581,859; 7,446,650; 7,370,983; 7,338,177;7,274,501; 7,255,451; 7,195,381; 7,184,190; 5,668,663; 5,724,187 and/or6,690,268, and/or in U.S. patent applications Ser. No. 12/091,525, filedApr. 25, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,855,755; Ser. No. 11/226,628, filedSep. 14, 2005 and published Mar. 23, 2006 as U.S. Publication No.US-2006-0061008; and/or Ser. No. 10/538,724, filed Jun. 13, 2005 andpublished Mar. 9, 2006 as U.S. Publication No. US-2006-0050018, whichare all hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Thedisplay is viewable through the reflective element when the display isactivated to display information. The display element may be any type ofdisplay element, such as a vacuum fluorescent (VF) display element, alight emitting diode (LED) display element, such as an organic lightemitting diode (OLED) or an inorganic light emitting diode, anelectroluminescent (EL) display element, a liquid crystal display (LCD)element, a video screen display element or backlit thin film transistor(TFT) display element or the like, and may be operable to displayvarious information (as discrete characters, icons or the like, or in amulti-pixel manner) to the driver of the vehicle, such as passenger sideinflatable restraint (PSIR) information, tire pressure status, and/orthe like. The mirror assembly and/or display may utilize aspectsdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,184,190; 7,255,451; 7,446,924 and/or7,338,177, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties. The thicknesses and materials of the coatings on thesubstrates of the reflective element may be selected to provide adesired color or tint to the mirror reflective element, such as a bluecolored reflector, such as is known in the art and such as described inU.S. Pat. Nos. 5,910,854; 6,420,036; and/or 7,274,501, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Changes and modifications to the specifically described embodiments maybe carried out without departing from the principles of the presentinvention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of theappended claims as interpreted according to the principles of patentlaw.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A The vision system for a vehicle, saidvision system comprising: a camera comprising an imager and a lens,wherein said camera is disposed at an exterior portion of a vehicle andhas a field of view exterior of the vehicle, and wherein said cameracaptures image data; a control comprising an image processor, wherein,responsive to said image processor processing image data captured bysaid camera, said control determines when there is debris at said lensof said camera; an air flow device operable to generate and direct airflow towards said lens of said camera to direct debris away from saidlens of said camera; a heater device that heats the air flow so thatheated air flow is directed towards said lens of said camera to directdebris away from said lens of said camera; wherein, responsive todetermination of debris at said lens of said camera by processing bysaid image processor of captured image data, said control activates saidair flow device to generate and direct air flow towards said lens ofsaid camera; a moisture separator that separates water from the airflow, wherein the separated water is discharged from the air flow via awater discharge port that discharges the separated water away from saidlens of said camera; wherein said camera comprises a front cameracomprising an imager and a lens and disposed at a forward portion of thevehicle and having a field of view forwardly of the vehicle, and whereinsaid air flow device is operable to generate air flow and direct heatedair flow towards said lens of said front camera to direct debris awayfrom said lens of said front camera; and wherein an inlet port thatreceives air is disposed at a forward portion of the vehicle, andwherein said air flow device receives air from said inlet port, andwherein said moisture separator comprises baffles disposed at or nearsaid inlet port of said vision system.
 2. The vision system of claim 1,wherein side cameras each comprising an imager and a lens are disposedat respective side portions of the vehicle so as to have respectivesideward fields of view, and wherein said air flow device is operable togenerate and direct air flow towards said lenses of said side cameras todirect debris away from said lenses of said side cameras.
 3. The visionsystem of claim 2, wherein, responsive to said image processorprocessing image data captured by at least one of said side cameras,said control determines when there is debris at said lens of said atleast one of said side cameras, and wherein, responsive to determinationof debris at said lens of said at least one of said side cameras, saidcontrol activates said air flow device to generate and direct air flowtowards said lens of said at least one of said side cameras.
 4. Thevision system of claim 1, comprising a plurality of cameras havingrespective lenses and imagers, wherein said air flow device comprises aplurality of outlet ports, and wherein said outlet ports are configuredto direct air flow towards said lenses to direct debris away from saidlenses.
 5. The vision system of claim 4, wherein said air flow deviceselectively generates air flow through one or more of a plurality ofconduits for directing air towards a respective one of said plurality ofcameras.
 6. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said air flow deviceis operable to generate air flow at least when the vehicle is travelingat a speed below a threshold speed.
 7. The vision system of claim 1,wherein said air flow device is operable to generate air flow at leastresponsive to a user input.
 8. The vision system of claim 1, whereinsaid air flow device comprises a fan.
 9. A vision system for a vehicle,said vision system comprising: a camera comprising an imager and a lens,wherein said camera is disposed at an exterior portion of a vehicle andhas a field of view exterior of the vehicle, and wherein said cameracaptures image data; a control comprising an image processor, wherein,responsive to said image processor processing image data captured bysaid camera, said control determines when there is debris at said lensof said camera; an air flow device operable to generate and direct airflow towards said lens of said camera to direct debris away from saidlens of said camera; a moisture separator that separates water from theair flow, wherein the separated water is discharged from the air flowvia a water discharge port that discharges the separated water away fromsaid lens of said camera; wherein an inlet port that receives air isdisposed at a forward portion of the vehicle, wherein said air flowdevice receives air from said inlet port, and wherein said moistureseparator comprises baffles disposed at or near said inlet port of saidvision system; wherein, responsive to determination of debris at saidlens of said camera by processing by said image processor of capturedimage data, said control activates said air flow device to generate anddirect air flow towards said lens of said camera; and wherein said airflow device is operable to discharge a liquid at said lens of saidcamera to enhance cleaning of said lens of said camera.
 10. The visionsystem of claim 9, wherein said camera comprises a front camera having aforward field of view.
 11. The vision system of claim 9, comprising aplurality of cameras having respective lenses and imagers, wherein saidair flow device comprises a plurality of outlet ports, and wherein saidoutlet ports are configured to direct air flow towards said lenses todirect debris away from said lenses.
 12. The vision system of claim 11,wherein said air flow device selectively generates air flow through oneor more of a plurality of conduits for directing air towards a lens of arespective one of said plurality of cameras.
 13. The vision system ofclaim 12, wherein at least one of (i) said air flow device is operableto generate air flow at least when the vehicle is traveling at a speedbelow a threshold speed and (ii) said air flow device is operable togenerate air flow at least responsive to a user input.
 14. A visionsystem for a vehicle, said vision system comprising: a front cameracomprising an imager and a lens, wherein said front camera is disposedat an exterior front portion of a vehicle and has a field of viewexterior and forward of the vehicle; a first side camera and a secondside camera, each comprising an imager and a lens, wherein said firstand second side cameras are disposed at respective side portions of thevehicle so as to have a respective sideward field of view; a controlcomprising an image processor, wherein, responsive to said imageprocessor processing image data captured by said camera, said controldetermines when there is debris at said lens of at least one of saidcameras; an air flow device operable to receive air at an inlet port andto generate and direct air flow towards said lenses to direct debrisaway from said lenses; a moisture separator that separates water fromthe air received at said inlet port, wherein the separated water isdischarged via a water discharge port that discharges the separatedwater away from said lens of said camera; a heater device operable toheat the air flow after water is separated from the air so that heatedair flow is directed towards said lenses to direct debris away from saidlenses; and wherein, responsive to determination of debris at said lensof one of said cameras by processing by said image processor of capturedimage data, said control activates said air flow device to generate anddirect air flow towards said lens of said one of said cameras.
 15. Thevision system of claim 14, comprising a rear camera comprising an imagerand a lens and disposed at a rearward portion of the vehicle so as tohave a field of view rearward of the vehicle, and wherein said air flowdevice is operable to generate and direct air flow towards said lens ofsaid rear camera to direct debris away from said lens of said rearcamera.
 16. The vision system of claim 15, wherein said air flow deviceis operable to discharge a liquid at said lens of said one of saidcameras to enhance cleaning of said lens.
 17. The vision system of claim14, wherein said air flow device comprises a plurality of conduits andoutlet ports, and wherein said conduits and outlet ports are configuredto direct air flow towards said lenses of said cameras to direct debrisaway from said lenses.
 18. The vision system of claim 14, comprising anultrasound emitter disposed at or near said lens of at least one of saidcameras to diffuse water droplets remaining in the air flow fromapproaching said lens of said at least one of said cameras.